Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that the agency will ask Congress at least P2.5 billion next year for the construction of a prison facility in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro to house persons deprived of liberty convicted of heinous crimes.
The DoJ secretary said that he is eyeing to transfer maximum-Security Compound inmates of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City to the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro maximum-Security Compound.
He added that he already discussed the plan with the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“I coordinated with the DPWH if we can have a design for the prison in Sablayan and a schedule of activities so we can build the maximum-security prison in Sablayan,” Remulla said.
The DoJ chief also assured that the project will still undergo competitive public bidding and awarded to the bidder with the best offer to erect the facility once it’s approved.
To recall, Remulla visited the Bureau of Corrections headquarters in Muntinlupa City and informed prison officials of his plans on SPPF.
“I think this is the proper place because of its location, distance, and the size of the land,” Remulla told BuCor officials, adding that it is high time to look into the various resources of the BuCor to make everything right.